Since yesterday's 'Coming out of the Green Closet' post, I've been getting a lot of great feedback from you ladies out there and many of you have questions. So I figured I would do a little post on how Cannabis can be used aid with things like anxiety, insomnia, pain and cancer. Please know that I'm in no way a professional doctor or formally educated (although I did do a college paper on the legalization of Marijuana), but I am experienced and do know more about it than most people I know.

Let's start by getting your Cannabis Medical Card. Some states have already legalized it for recreation and medical, California has passed and we are expecting it all to be legal and open to the public in January of 2018. Until then, you will need a Medical Cannabis Card to purchase legally from dispensaries. So how do you get a card? You may seek advisement from your General Practitioner and they can refer you or you can visit HelloMD.com to apply & register from the ease and privacy of your own home. It costs between $70 - $100 annually and you will receive your card in the mail, I got mine the very next week.

A lot has changed and continues to change as we learn more and more about the benefits of this plant. There are 3 Types of Cannabis: Sativa, Indica & Hybrid (a combo of the two). I know Indica for being more of the sleepy, relaxed feeling, this is good for anxiety & insomnia, but not really for functioning all that much. If you don't fall asleep from Indica then you will get the munchies, consider yourself warned. Sativa is my best friend, but sometimes she strikes my anxiety a little so I can't use her too often. Sativa will give you a more uplifting & creative feeling. The Hybrid is a combo of Sativa & Indica in varying strengths. Personally I go for Sativa Dominant Hybrids with some CBD in there too. For more info on the differences, I found this article on Leafly.

CBD - this is big healing element in Cannabis and I've been getting lots of questions on it. CBD does not have the psychoactive effects that THC does, so you can dose without having that high feeling. This is the stuff that is fighting cancer and helping children who suffer from daily seizures and many other things.. And of course, it is more expensive to have pure CBD. I like to make sure there is some percentage of CBD in everything I take because it also helps with my anxiety.

Medicating with Cannabis doesn't mean you have to smoke it, there are many many ways to benefit from this plant. My husband made me ditch the bong many years ago, and because of the smell, I got booted to the garage or patio. I chose not to ingest or smoke while I was pregnant or nursing and within just a couple of years, things had advanced so much that I no longer had to stink up the garage or myself. Thanks to... The Vape Pen. I've tried a few different types - the ones that burn green bud are super smooth - check out PaxVapor.com - but it def still smells like weed. They have a new model that you can burn oil or bud in that I really can't wait to try out.

Cannabis Oils are very popular right now because they are discreet, convenient, and easier on the lungs. I personally, choose to smoke Premium Oil Cartridges that screw into a little battery pen. It's a smooth hit, very little odor and much cleaner on your lungs. Premium Cartridges typically have a metal mouth piece (opposed to plastic - think smoking heated up plastic? No!) and contain oil that is clean of any solvents or harsh chemicals. When medicating, remember that the process starts from a tiny seed, then as it grows you want to make sure they aren't using chemicals or pesticides to help maintain the plants. Then you want to make sure the extraction process is clean too, this is going into your body, so it is important to consider what other things can potentially be ingested along with it. My favorite Cartridges are 710 KingPen (I prefer the 1g because they are $50 for 1G compared to .5g for $35) not all companies offer this size, so when I can get it, I do! I also like GoldDrop, Jetty Extracts, and Absolute Xtracts.

You can also Dab with the oils, but dabbing is a little more maintenance and probably for the younger crowd? maybe? I have done it, it is smooth, but too many tools for this mama so I won't go into it.

Edibles - there are a ton of edible creations happening all around us - Chocolates, Butter, Cupcakes, Lozenges, you name it.. Again, it's important to understand the brands you are using and that their mission aligns with yours. Kiva Confections so far is killing it in the Cannabis Chocolate Biz. They make different flavored chocolate bars with varying strengths & little mints too! Each Chocolate Bar has 4 dose sections, if you have not tried an edible in a while, please only take a 1/4 of a dose and wait an hour or two before taking more. Kiva has these incredible little Terra Bites in two flavors: Espresso & Blueberry. I know a lot of people who either pop one or two an hour before bedtime or take in small doses through out the day. Each little ball is approx. 5mg of THC and are quite tasty! Obviously with Edibles, this is something to be taken very seriously if you have children. I definitely foresee and a rise in the need for a mini freezer that locks! Until then, you can purchase a lock box or prescription lock bag. I prefer to keep all my edibles in the outside freezer as they are easier to consume, stay fresh and taste better.

There are also some seriously killer looking products coming out for keeping your product safe. Check out these ridiculously cute bags from Vanderpop

I've had lots of questions about tinctures too, and these are really great for calming and soothing effects. They also tend to be richer in CBD. I've been using MoxieMeds - Modern Medicine for Women by Women - can I get a Hell Yes?! and they've got two different strengths to provide relief from cramps and pain, calm anxiety and emotional stress, reduce inflammation, and overall help to balance hormonal cycles. They have a 'Relief' of 1:1 CBD:THC and 'Recovery' of 4:1 CBD:THC. The 4:1 will be really low in THC, so less psychoactive. For even LESS Psychoactive, I have seen Tinctures of 20:1 CBD:THC (but I don't think Moxie offers that strength). Tinctures can be added in juice or tea, or for rapid relief place the liquid under your tongue and hold it for a minute or two before swallowing.

There are many other products, new ones coming out everyday! Even Topical Balms that can ease muscle pain and tension - check out what Flour Child Collective is doing in SF! My BF Shannon Paras shot their most recent shoot!

Lastly, where do I get it?? Once you have your card, you can visit and register with any local dispensary you would like. Once it became legal, I was introduced to Harborside Health Center and have been a loyal customer ever since. I believe they have two main dispensaries in Oakland and San Jose, everyone there is super friendly and knowledgeable on their products. Sometimes there is a wait in line, but that is what happens when you have reliable people educating and not rushing their patients. If you don't want to go there in person, guess what?? They have FREE DELIVERY!! Because this is so new, the laws are sort of changing all the time, in fact the tow I live in apparently outlawed Delivery come 2018. What exactly that means I don't know, but I will figure it out when it happens. Mail Service is still a Federal Institution and Cannabis is not prohibited in the mail, so don't mail it to anyone, ever. Additionally, there is an app called WeedMaps that will direct you to all the Dispensaries near you.

Please feel free to ask me any questions you have and thank you so much for supporting me on this platform. I know a lot of you cannot be as vocal because of your professions or whatever the case may be, just know that I will be here to fight for you, I will advocate for you, for all of us. Cheers!

I am awesome. Those were the first 3 words that came out of my mouth when a new friend wanted to interview me. I think he was taken back a little; his reaction seemed a little off and almost 10 years later, he still tells this story. What could it have been? Was it too Egotistical? Too Confident? Too True? These thoughts would often race my mind as I would refer back to other family members and close friends joking that I 'have a big head' - it was even in several of the toasts at my wedding. I love a good laugh and it is all in good fun, but I began to question myself and often times put myself down so that the notion of being too confident would never cross anyone's mind. My thoughts began to break me down and I began to hide some of the real me for fear that somebody would take it the wrong way and think negatively of me. Self Criticism is so unhealthy for the soul. We all should feel free to share our beauty, our kindness, our awesome with the world.

When I said I was awesome, I meant it, but maybe it wasn't heard the way I intended it. I believe everyone should love themselves and if you don't, why the hell not? I'm a good person, and if you've met me for more than a minute, I wouldn't have to explain why. Just put it this way, it has nothing to do with my art or my work and everything to do with being me. Of course I have flaws, but I don't need to point those out, I just work on them everyday. Even at 40 years old I make bad decisions. Often. And I have to take responsibility for them when I'm around my little ones to show them first hand that we are all flawed.

A decade ago, my partner Maria Chang and I joined forces and pioneered the 'Couture Boudoir' - a day of glamour and passion with an award winning hair & makeup artist and equally acclaimed photographer. At the time, Photographers were not yet offering Styled Shoots and Boudoir definitely felt like taboo no matter how beautiful we made it. It was amazing, but I was so afraid of what people would think that I didn't blog about it or post it on social media, and I never admitted what I did when I first met someone. Fuck what a shame.. But I think if I didn't feel this way then, I couldn't possibly feel the freedom that I do now. When moving to Kansas I was worried I would be kicked out for the work I did. While I didn't do much local work during our stay (I traveled home for shoots often) I was greeted with some of the kindest people on the planet and never once felt judged. Although there was one BIG thing I still didn't share with most..

My husband says he knew right away, but maybe it was because of the guy I was dating. I've always been incredibly responsible and driven, pretty much every job I've ever had, I've taken the place over. I've got my shit together, but for most of my adult life I've kept a secret for fear of not being taken seriously, or being labeled a criminal or druggie or letting my parents down. I've got a conservative but understanding husband and I can count on one hand the close friends that will join me, but for every other aspect of my life, I've hid it. I've felt shame. I've always been different than the other girls, usually labeled the crazy one who talks about sex, shoots naked chicks and smokes pot. And I am crazy, but in a wholehearted, antagonistic way. For me, Cannabis calms my mind and arouses my creativity. The legalization of Cannabis has opened the doors to a brand new resource that can not only produce medicines, but paper and goods and art and enjoyable edibles :)

Maria and I have embarked on a new adventure photographing & marketing for Cannabis Lifestyle Brands & Products. Our mission is to kill the stigma that's associated with Cannabis and curate a Positive Image of Women & Cannabis. We want to promote self-love and empowerment and show that Cannabis isn't just about 'Bongs & Thongs' for women. Cannabis has no face. We are lovers, mothers, healers, professionals, sisters, artists... and some of us are fighting for our lives.

So where am I going with all of this? I'm feeling pretty alive right now and I'd like to share it with you however I can. Ladies, let's stop beating ourselves up and let's practice lifting one another up instead. It's pretty obvious that it is up to us to start changing this world. We are the ones raising our youth, educating them. It is our job to be the constant figure in their lives, to advocate for them. To advocate for us.. Stop competing with each other. If you see a girl working her confidence give her a hell yeah! And please.. the judging. This is so hard I know first hand, but let's practice opening our hearts and our minds to something that may be different than what we already know. I believe we have so much to learn from other people, share yourself with them and be loved.

For more up to date info on our new Cannabis Projects Follow our Instagram @MJLifestyle

With Self-Love, Female Empowerment & now the Legalization of Cannabis happening, it seems only fitting that we would embrace it all. With our art & collaboration, we can help kill the stigma behind Cannabis. It's far safer than alcohol or prescription drugs, and people who medicate themselves with Cannabis shouldn't have to feel ashamed or looked down upon. Not everyone who uses marijuana is a 'thug' or a 'pothead'. Cannabis has no face and the stereotypes are false. We believe in love, we believe there are far more good people in this world than bad, and we believe in following where our hearts lead us.

Recently, Maria & I headed out on the Sierra Foothills to follow along in a days work on the farm with Gypsy Trap Farms. Let's just say, we never wanted to leave! This lifestyle they have single handedly created was so inspiring, and while we know so much work has been put in to get here, they make is look so easy!

This duo prides themselves on farming organically and producing clean products for their boutique clients to enjoy. I was in complete awe of not only their dedication and hard work, but their knowledge on the flower, growing & benefits of Cannabis. Maria & I were commissioned for this project to document their work on the farm as well as capture lifestyle images to represent their brand. We've got more on the website, but here's a peek into our newest project - to see more visit our new Instagram @MJLifestyle

My beautiful baby sister is having her second baby and we couldn't be more excited! However, the little sh*t isn't finding out until the baby comes and we are DYING to know if we will be blessed with another mini-Drew or if we will get a sweet little-lindsay to love. As I write this, she is just 4 days away from her due date and she is doing everything she can to evacuate this lil bundle. I'm hoping she just relaxes for a few moments longer until baby is good and ready to be here because life won't be this quiet for quite some time! lol

We started out my sister's shoot at her house, where we took a couple of candid shots of the family. Hudson, my darling nephew who recently turned two acted his age and reminded us of how much easier our first maternity photo shoot was. I love his little mischievous expressions he gives and I know exactly how to play him and make him think it's his idea to give me loves. I seriously can't tell you how much I love being an Auntie!

After grabbing a few shots at home, we headed north to Walnut Creek to visit the Ruth Bancroft Garden, a stunning historic cactus and succulent garden. This place is breathtaking! Too bad, the minute we rolled into Walnut Creek, a storm had rolled over. We waiting for it to let up and because Linz and Drew are such troopers, we bundled up Huddy and went on to shoot. The staff there was more than welcoming and we can't be more pleased with the outcome of these images!

I got a message from the Senior Varsity Heartthrob - oops! I mean, Quarterback, asking if I was available to do his headshots for his new Consulting Business. I'm not sure we ever actually met, I was a little shy freshman who observed more than anything, but our town has a small town feel to it and somehow over the course of 20 years and mutual friends we ended up being FB friends.

I showed up at his place excited to dig into his story and find out more about his goals for his consulting business and basically catch up on the past 20 years or so. After his football career was cut way too short due to an injury, 2 hip replacement surgeries, and 3 years of disability, he received his degree in Communications, moved on from sports and spent the next 17 years in tech sales.

I can't imagine how incredibly frustrating it must be to be forced to throw in the towel on something you love so much. I often think what would happen if I didn't have a right arm, what the hell would I do? Fortunately, Grant found a way he can still fuel his passion for sports and coaching. He decided to go back to school, got his Master's Degree and has started his own Mental/Sports Performance Consultant business focusing on high impact and combat sports. Moms and Dads, Mental Awareness is HUGE especially when you think about raising a son or a daughter to be a professional athlete. They are one bad play away from being ridiculed on social media or like Grant, an injury away from no longer playing. He's here to up your mental game, go check him out! GAMEFACE PERFORMANCE

Grant, huge congrats on bringing your passion back into your reality and thank you for sharing your story with me. I'm thrilled for you and can't wait to see what you bring to the game. xo